Accessible quick freeze drawer



Aug. 2, 1949. w. MCK, BNRD 2,477,853

ACCESSIBLE QUICK FREEZE DRAWER Filed Deo. ,4, y1946 Patented Aug. 2,1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEy ACCESSIBLE QUICK FREEZE DRAWER WilliamMcKinley Baird, Chicago, Ill.

Application December 4, 1946, Serial No. 714,005

1 Claim. (Cl. 45-7) My invention relates to a drawer in a refrigeratedlocker system adapted by its openwork construction for quick freezing ofproducts placed therein and having a hinged front for ready accessthereto.

It is among the objects of my invention to provide a quick freeze drawerhaving openwork, a hinged drawer head adapted to drop when unhinged topermit immediate and easy access to the drawer, said drawer also adaptedto slidably receive two layers of baskets.

My invention also contemplates such other objects, advantages, andcapabilities as will later more fully appear and which are inherentlypossessed by my invention.

While I have shown in the accompanying drawings, a preferred form' of myinvention, yet I wish it understood that the same is susceptible ofmodication and change without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of myembodiment; Fig. 2 is an enlarged detailed sectional view on line 2-2 ofFig. 1; Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view of the latching means and Fig. 4 isa diagrammatic perspective view in phantom of the baskets, as positionedin the drawer.

In a refrigerated locker system having a cabinet with a plurality ofdrawers or lockers slidable therein and accessible from the exterior ofthe cabinet, each of said drawers IIJ has a container portion II and ahead portion I2.

A hinge I3 is attached to the rear bottom portion of the head portion l2and to the irontbottom portion of container portion II, so that head I2may pivot downwardly and fall below said container portion for fullyexposing the front open end of container portion II.

Container portion II has openwork side walls I5 and an open top. Each ofthe said walls I5 has an inturned roller ange I6, the top portion ofwhich is adapted to slidably receive baskets I8. Each of side walls I5has an inturned strip I'I spaced below said roller ilange so as toslidably receive a lower group of baskets I8.

To opposite sides of head I2 are attached brackets I9 and 20 to whichare pivotally attached latch arms 2l and 22, which are joined by aconnecting rod 23. Each of the latch arms 2| and 22 has a notch 24 toremovably engage tie rod 25 attached to theI upper portions of the sidewalls I5 of container portion II.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

In a refrigerated locker cabinet having a drawer opening, a quick freezedrawer slidable in said opening, said drawer having a rear containerportion with openwork side walls to permit the flow of cold airtherethrough, and an upper and a lower pair of vertically spacedinturned flanges attached to opposite side walls, said flanges adaptedto removably and slidably receive an upper and a lower tier of openworkbaskets, said drawer having a deep front head portion with its bottomrear inner edge hingedly attached to the front bottom portion of saidcontainer portion, a tie rod extending across said container portion andattached to opposite upper front portions of said container portion, apair of brackets attached to opposite upper rear portions of said headportion adjacent said tie rod, a latch arm pivotally attached to each ofsaid brackets, each of said latch members having a notch intermediateits ends adapted when said latch members are dropped down against saidtie rod to normally engage said tie rod to hold said head in closedposition, said latch members adapted to be swung upwardly away from saidtie rod to permit said head to pivot downwardly on its hinge below thecontainer portion to fully expose the front open end of said containerportion to permit free entry and exit of the baskets to and from thecontainer portion of the drawer.

WILLIAM MCKINLEY BAIRD.

REFERENCES CITED The following referenlces are of record in the le ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 893,020 Senge July 14, 19081,851,855 Lindemann et al. Mar. 29, 1932 1,960,365 Barker May 29, 19342,266,857 Field Dec.. 23, 1941

